Rosa Ponselle collection of performances, recorded interviews, and films

id
5379
origination
Ponselle, Rosa, 1897-1981
date statement
1926-1987
key date
1926
identifier (local_mss)
20472
org unit
Rodgers and Hammerstein Archives of Recorded Sound
call number
*L (Special) 89-50
b-number
b14388195
total components
301
total series
7
max depth
3
boost queries
(none)
component layout
Default Layout
Extended MARC Fields
false
Extended Navigation
false
created
2013-04-01 15:05:18 UTC
updated
2026-01-20 20:41:53 UTC
status note
(missing)
Display Aeon link
true

Description data TOP

unitid
{"value"=>"*L (Special) 89-50", "type"=>"local_call"}
{"value"=>"20472", "type"=>"local_mss"}
unittitle
{"value"=>"Rosa Ponselle collection of performances, recorded interviews, and films"}
physdesc
{"format"=>"simple", "value"=>"371 items"}
repository
{"value"=>"Rodgers and Hammerstein Archives of Recorded Sound. The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts. <div class=\"address\"> <span class=\"addressline\">40 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY 10023-7498</span></div>"}
prefercite
{"value"=>"<p>Rosa Ponselle Collection, *L(Special) 89.50, The Rodgers and Hammerstein Archives of Recorded Sound, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.</p>"}
bioghist
{"value"=>"<p>Rosa Ponselle (1897-1981) was a noted American soprano, whose voice was famed for its opulent tone, breadth of range and interpretative warmth. She began studying music with her mother, an amateur singer. She and her sister, Carmela sang together under their real name, Ponzillo, in vaudeville shows in Pittsburgh and New York.</p> <p>Her manager and voice teacher, William Thorner, introduced her to Caruso who arranged for her audition at the Metropolitan Opera. Her debut with the Metropolitan Opera was on Nov. 15, 1918, in the role of Leonora in <span class=\"title\">La Forza del Destino</span>, opposite Caruso. She was instantly successful, and her career took off from there. She went on to sing a variety of Italian opera roles at the Metropolitan.</p> <p>Her last performance with the Metropolitan Opera was on Feb. 15, 1937 as Carmen. During her career, she sang 22 roles, performing 356 times with the Metropolitan Opera in New York and on tour. After retiring, she became active in social affairs.</p>"}
scopecontent
{"value"=>"<p>The collection consists of 371 noncommercial sound recordings consisting of tapes, discs, test pressings, and videos collected by Rosa Ponselle from 1926 to 1981, covering her career and retirement. The bulk of these recordings were made from 1926 to 1954, and primarily contain performances by Ponselle of opera excerpts, Lieder, and American songs. Several noncommercial recordings feature mezzo-soprano Carmela Ponselle (elder sister of Rosa Ponselle). Also included in the collection are recordings of memorial tributes to Ponselle which were added to the collection from 1982 to 1987.</p> <p>The films are primarily silent \"home movies\" of family social events, including travels and sports. The known dates of these films range from 1935 to 1945. Most of the videorecordings in the collection are copies of the films; these copies were made sometime prior to receipt of the collection by the repository.</p> <p>Additional videorecordings include a 1977 television interview with Ponselle in celebration of her 80th birthday, and a \"90th Birthday\" memorial tribute .</p>"}
{"value"=>"<p class='list-head'>The Rosa Ponselle collection of performances, recorded interviews, and films are arranged in seven series:</p>\n<ul class='arrangement series-descriptions'>\n<li><div class='series-title'><a href='/rha/20472#c660510'>Series I: Rosa Ponselle performances.</a></div>\n</li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/rha/20472#c660662'>Series II: Performances by others,.</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1905-1982</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>This series includes performances by artists other than Rosa Ponselle and Carmela Ponselle.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/rha/20472#c660685'>Series IV: Unidentified performer(s),.</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1936-1982</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>This series includes recordings for which no performer has been named or identified. It is therefore possible that recordings of Rosa Ponselle may be identified in this series.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/rha/20472#c660718'>Series V: Interviews,,.</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1977</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>This series includes interviews with Rosa Ponselle. Only one item in this series is attributed to a specific date.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/rha/20472#c660725'>Series VI: Carmela Ponselle performances.</a></div>\n</li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/rha/20472#c660756'>Series VII: Films/video recordings,.</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1935-1977</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>The films are primarily silent \"home movies\" of family social events, including travels and sports. The known dates of these films range from 1935 to 1945. Most of the videorecordings in the collection are copies of the films; these copies were made sometime prior to receipt of the collection by the repository. Additional videorecordings include a 1977 television interview with Ponselle in celebration of he 80th birthday, and a \"90th Birthday\" memorial tribute.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/rha/20472#c660784'>Series VIII: Other items,.</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1934-1982</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>This series includes primarily spoken word sound recordings, as well as other items which are out of the scope of the other established series.</p></div></li></ul>\n", "type"=>"arrangement"}
arrangement
{"value"=>"<p>The collection is arranged into seven series and four sub-series.</p> <ul> <li>Series I: Rosa Ponselle performances</li> <li>Sub-series 1: Collections</li> <li>Sub-series 2: Individual works</li> <li>Series II: Performances by others</li> <li>Series III: Unidentified performer(s)</li> <li>Series IV: Interviews</li> <li>Series V: Carmela Ponselle performances</li> <li>Sub-series 1: Collections</li> <li>Sub-series 2: Individual works</li> <li>Series VI: Films/Video recordings</li> <li>Series VII: Other items</li></ul>", "supress_display"=>true}
accessrestrict
{"value"=>"<p>Access to original items is restricted.</p>"}
userestrict
{"value"=>"<p>For permission to publish, contact the Curator, The Rodgers and Hammerstein Archives of Recorded Sound.</p>"}
unitdate
{"value"=>"1926-1987", "type"=>"inclusive", "normal"=>"1926/1987"}
date_inclusive_start
1926
date_inclusive_end
1987
origination
{"value"=>"Ponselle, Rosa, 1897-1981", "type"=>"persname"}
acqinfo
{"accession_number"=>"RHA"}
abstract
{"value"=>"The collection contains commercial and noncommercial sound recordings and noncommercial films and videos collected by Rosa Ponselle from 1926 to 1981, covering her career and retirement; recordings of memorial tributes to Ponselle were added to the collection from 1982 to 1987."}
keydate
1926
processinfo
{"value"=>"<p>Processed by David H. Thomas and Peggy Schein.</p>"}
date_start
1926
date_end
1987

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